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(No Model.

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MAST HOOP.

N0. 383,586. Patented May 29, 188B.

IN VEN TOR ATTORNEYS.

PETERS. Ppma-umo n h r. Wa-hlnglun. ma

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC CHARLES S. MOTT, OF PATCI IOGUE, AS'Q IGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND GEORGE H. SHAFFER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MAST-HOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,586, dated May 29, 1888.

Application filed March 3, 1888.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. Moran, of Patchogue, in the county of Suiiolk and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mast-Hoops, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in hoops for attaching the sails to the masts and other spars of sailing-vessels, in which the hoop-body is made in two semicircular sectrons adapted to be locked together to encir ole the spar, or separated to permit removal from the spar without the necessity of removing the rigging.

The object of this improvement is to provide by a simple and convenient arrangement for the ready connection or separation of the hoopsections without injuriously affecting the strength or efficiency of the hoop.

The invention consists of a novel construe tlon and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described and distinctly claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure lis a plan view of a mast-hoop embodying my improvement, part being broken out to reveal the construction. Fig. 2 is asectional edge view of the said mast-hoop.

The body of the hoop is formed of two semicircular sections, A 13, generally of wood, having by preference a convex inner surface to adapt the hoop to slide more readily on the spar, and a flat outer surface, on which flat metallic band-sections O D are secured. The meeting ends of the hoop-sections on one side are jointed together by a hinge, E, the leaves of which are by preference secured to the periphery of the hoop, so that the sections can be spread apart or brought together toform a complete circle at will.

On the free end of the hoop-section B is fitted and received the inner end of a metallicsleeve, F, which may be formed integrally with the corresponding band-section, D, and is made in the shape of a segment of a hollow annulus to correspond with the curve of the hoop-circle.

The outer end of the sleeve F,which projects beyond the end of the section B, is adapted,

Serial No. 266,030. (No model.)

as a socket, to receive the free end of the section A, which has a tapered extremity, A, so as to more readily find and enter the mouth of the said socket.

In opposite sides of the section A, at the end,

are formed corresponding segmental grooves, G H, which are concentric with the hoop circle, and have their bottoms inclined inward from both ends toward the middle, forming thereat corresponding recesses, I J.

In the grooves G H are seated tlushcorresponding segmental flat springs, K L, respectively, the ends of which are fastened to the bottom of thegroove by rivet-s S, passed through both springs and the interposed wood, but the middle portions of which are free to yield and be pressed into the recesses I J, and are formed thereabove with corresponding beveled catches, M N, adapted to be wholly retracted within the grooves when the springs are pressed oppositely inward.

The sleeve F is formed on opposite sides with slots 0 P, arranged to automatically receive and engage the catches M N, respectively, when the end of the section A is thrust into the sleeve, so as to lock the same securely against withdrawal. By pressing the catches M N inward with the thumb and forefinger, so as to disengage them from the slots 0 P, the hoop-sections may be readily separated.

This hoop is adapted to be attached to a sail in the ordinary manner, and conveniently serves for releasing the same from the spar without removing the rigging.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improved mast-hoop consisting of two semicircular wooden sections and two outer metallic band-sections, the two sections being hinged together and provided at their ends, respectively, with a slotted socket and a catch for engaging the slot in said socket, substantial] y as herein shown and described.

' 2. In a mast-hoop, the combination, with two semicircular hoop sections jointed together at their one ends, of a segmental slotted sleeve received partly on the free end of one section,the free end of the other section adapted to enter said sleeve, and having a segmental groove in its side deepened to form. a recess at its middle, a flat segmental spring seated in ed to enter said socket and having segmental said groove, fastened at its ends therein and medially deepened grooves in its opposite free to yield inward into the said recess, and sides, flat segmental springs seated in said a beveled catch formed thereat on the spring grooves and having medial catches, and rivets 15 5 and adapted to engage the slot in the sleeve, passed through the corresponding ends of both substantially as described. springs and through the intervening body of 3. In a mast-hoop, the combination, with 1 the hoop, substantially as described. two semicircular hoop-sections connected at CHARLES S. MO'IT. their one ends by a joint, of a segmental op 10 positely-slotted socket on the free end of one Witnesses:

WILMOT M. SMITH,

section, the free end of the other section adapt- WALTER H. J AYCOX. 

